South African Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 181, 30 January 1914, Page 5

South African Strike

| NO MORE LAWLESSNESS. A SEVERE LESSON'. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Johannesburg, January 28. Mr. Smuts, reviewing the civilian defence force of two thousand spcciii.l constables, said that the duly outbreak had been a gevere lesson of what anarchy meant. The citizens were determined that there should be no repetition of lawlessness, and as a result there had been perfect order without shedding a drop of blood.

DEAI'ARTURE OF STRIKERS. Johannesburg, January 28. Beuoni is the only place where nii-r----tial law has not been relaxed. Large numbers of the strikers arc applying for permits to leave the conn, try. Many Australians are among the strikers. The position elsewhere is normal. SOKE LABORITES. GOVERNMENT'S ACTION IMPUGNED London, January 28. Mr. Keir ITardie, speaking at Glasgow, pointed out that the Act of Indemnity required the King's signature. Lord Gladstone could refuse to sign until the Act was sent Homo for consideration. Mr. Brownlie, chairman of the Amalgamated Engineers, announced that all the officials in South Africa had been arrested and the books and funds confiscated. They were unable to cable funds to South Africa for fear of confiscation. Mr. llarcourt had refused to receive a deputation, saying that the matter was solely within the competence of the Union Government, but promised to obtain particulars from Lord Gladstone.

Durban, January 28. Ten of the deported leaders were railed aboard the Umgcni at midnight. THE DEPORTATION ORDER. DECLARED ILLEGAL JUDGE'S STRONG VIEWS. Pretoria, January 28.

When the application for restraint was renewed in the Supreme Court and the departure of the deported leaders was announced, the Court allowed counsel for the deported men to apply for the attachment of the officials concerned for contempt. Mr. Justice Wessels said he regretted that he had not sufficient information on Tuesday or he would have granted an order restraining the Government from deporting the strike leaders. If the Government chose to use force and commit an illegal act 110 court could stop it. The Govern- I ment was acting invalidly if it locked ' up men and refused them their rights as citizens to appeal, but the Government's use of force was a matter for which it was responsible to the citizens.

UNIDER MARTIAL LAW,

DEPORTEES CRESTFALLEN, WISTFUL AND UNNERVED. STRICT PRESS CENSORSHIP. Times-Sydney Sun Special Cables. Received 2D, 5.40 p.m. London, January 28. The Daily Mai! says that instructions •egarding the deportations wore sent to Durban from Pretoria by motor car, the Government not trusting the telegraph or telephone. The steamer was stopped while loading cargo. Everywhere the police, with fixed bayonets, and a force of detectives accompanied the deportees' train. The deportees looked crestfallen, wistful and unnerved. They carried aboard their small belongings in parcels or ill their pockets. The one defiant note was their scarlet ties and mufflers. They were given two bonis to write letters to their families. The troops remained on the ship till she was outside the harbor. Telegrams relating to the deportation were refused transmission at Johannesburg by the censor, and the newspapers were forbidden to make any editorial. references to the incident. The Colonial Odice was not informed beforehand, though (he acts were known in London before they received publicity in South Africa.

• "MAKES THE JILOOD BOIL." RUMOR (IF CONSPIRACY. A LABOR REPUBLIC. Received DO, 12.5 a.m. . London, January 20. Harry Poland, interviewed, said that at lirst sight it makes the blood boil to think of ten respectable members uf the Labor Party being banished as such. J'e was therefore inclined to think there was truth in. the statement about a censpiracy to upset the Ooverniuent ami establish a Labor Republic. AI'STRAI.IAN PROTESTS. Received 2!), 12.5 a.m. Sydney, January 29. The Labor Conference, adopted a rpsO' lution, moved by Mr. Dick Meagher, protesting against the action of the South African Government in deporting' Labor

% leadens. 5 The. Ausfralian Workers' Union carried si similar motion. THE TIMES ON THE SITUATION. COMMON IMPERIAL POLICY NEEDED. Received 30, 12.5 a.m. : London, December 20. J The Times says tiie gravity of. the situation lies in the fact that the Government, legislature, and electorates of South Africa apparently approve of an administrative step which is certain to provokn tho strongest resentment amongst large? and powerful classes of tho electorates at Home, and possibly electorates in the other Dominions. The deportation is (he most startling event that has yet occurred to reveal our want of common policy in dealing with an Imperial problem which will affect , more than one self-governing coramun- , ity.

SPEECH BY MR. RAMSAY MACDOXALD. 'A LITTLE HIT TOO THICK." BRITISH RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES THREATENED. IMPERIAL VETO WANTED. Received 30, l-.o a.m. London, January 29.

At the Glasgow Labor Congress, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., declared cynically that the conclusion of the South African war, the result of spending a hundred millions of money and the loss of thousand* of lives, is that trades union leaders are deported if they bring out men who are suffering from intniitrial grievances. It is not easy for the British Commoners to intervene, for it must be remembered that South Africa is a self-governing colony, and any interference from Downing Street will be immediately resented, even by victims of the tyranny. But the Briti-.li Luborites can raise the question of Lord Gladstone assenting to martial law. The matter, he said, was beginning to get a ' little bit too thick, lie had ahva.v* thought that under the British flag there were certain inviolable rights and liberties, including the right to strike, and the right to picket. Now they were told that was all nonsense, humbug, and moonshine.

"A self-governing colony can,'! a f J went on, "make or mar the Empire's j fair name. If there is no Imperial authority vested with powers to stop this sort of thing, it is about time we had it. If we are going to allow self-gov-erning colonics to do this, I say candidiy that it would be far rather that thoy should be under a foreign power.

HOW DEPORTATION WAS CARlill'L) OUT. A COLD-BLOODKD arrangement. Receive! 30, 1-2.5 a.m. Johannesburg, January 20. The prisoners were surprised to find themselves at Durban, where they arrived at midnight, strongly guarded by the Natal Rifles, Water police guarded their passage from the train to the steamer Umgeni, whereon the Government had chartered all the passengers' accommodation. The prisoners were hurriedly taken, without resistance, tr tlicir cabins, each of which was strongly guarded by the water police. The secret was so well kept that no one in Durban was aware of the proceedings. Even the railway officials were ignorant, the train being designated for special conveyance of a theatrical company. The Umgeni crossed the bar and authored in the roadstead. The deportcds were then informed of the Government's plan.

Johannesburg, January 29. Neither the detectives nor the railway officials were warned to hold themselves in readiness. When the chief detective ultimately gave orders, lie told the man selected simply to bring their overcoats and handcuffs.

The news leaked out 111 Johannesburg through a civilian chancing to hear the inmates of the prison van singing "The Red Flag," while being taken to the train. lie informed the newspapers. The Rand Hail published the news, but the censor then warned the newspapers not to refer to the matter. The deportcds were moved on Monday night, and conveyed in a prison van some miles into tin- country, where they were placed in a train containing troops. They had no idea whither they were, going, but believed Pretoria-wards. All the windows and shutters were kept closed. London, January 29.

Keillor's agent at Capetown advises that Hie opening of Parliament on the :!oth is awaited with extraordinary interest. The crisis has brought the English and Dutch into remarkable sympathy, which was strikingly illustrated by public meetings and fraternisations during the mobilisations. The Government's first duty will be to obtain an indemnity. It is doubtful whether the Government will proceed with Bills legalising the controlling of trades unions, and dealing with industrial disputes. The strike was really a protest against these Rills, and the Government is likoty to postpone industrial l"gish tion until the public passions have subsided.

The Cape Argus says: "The Government has incurred a grave responsibility. It will be nothing short of a nil tional calamity if recent happenings encourage the evil spirit of bureaucracy.'' The Gape Times considers the deportations unjustifiable legally, but justifiable on the grounds of common-sense and public safety. The Times recall- New Zealand antlioritifs giving notice to agitators to quit their districts. Pretoria, January,2o.

When Lucas's counsel applied for an order restraining the Government. Mr. Justice Wcs-els declared lie could not assume upon rumors that the Government was going to kidnap citizens and